Basketball in Africa

By Betram Lengama
THIS year's Taifa Cup basketball championship will be held in Dodoma from November 23-30. Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) Secretary General, Saleh Zonga, said in Dar es Salaam on Monday that the tournament will bring together regional teams from across Tanzania Mainland.
"This is among the major tournaments falling in the federation's calendar and we've decided to stage it in Dodoma this year," he said.
"We're currently working around the clock to get the funds required to facilitate the event which we hope to conduct as per our calendar," he added.
According to Zonga, the TBF needs 113m/- to stage week-long tournament and they are looking for sponsors and stakeholders to assist them in facilitating the event.
"We appeal for support from sponsors so that we can conduct the event which is one of the main sources of identify and promoting talent in the country," he said. TBF, under the previous leadership of Mussa Mziya, failed to stage the tournament in Mbeya region from November 28 to December 8, last year, as planned due to financial constraints.
The Taifa Cup is one of the major sources of getting national teams players as the event involves both men and women's teams from all the regions.
Meanwhile, TBF has announced that the Nyerere Memorial tournament will be held in Musoma, Mara region starting fromTuesday.
"It's an open tournament to allow as many teams as possible to take part in," Zonga said. "During the competition TBF leaders and participating teams will have the opportunity to visit Mwalimu's grave at Butiama," he added.
The tournament commemorates the Father of the Nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who passed away on October 14, 1999 in London, England.